viewfinder position.

[mick doyle]

how is the viewfinder positioned for hand-held shoulder work? what sort of shoulder mount is included? The camera pictures so far look awkward for hand-held shoulder work.

 

[Matthew Rogers]

how is the viewfinder positioned for hand-held shoulder work? what sort of shoulder mount is included? The camera pictures so far look awkward for hand-held shoulder work.

Because of how the cage is designed (some of this depends on how you build up on the basic production pack) you should be able to put the EVF pretty much anywhere you need it. I am looking forward to that because current ENG style cameras don't fit my body very well (I'm 6'4.) It will be very nice when you are using the RED, let's say on a dolly and you can put the EVF on the back of camera. Looking at the pictures of the pad, it looks fairly small, but usable. I haven't been able to tell yet if you are going to be able to slide that back and forth also.

Matthew

 

[mick doyle]

Thanks for that Matthew.

 

[Kevin C]

Here is a picture of a sweet LCD/EVF set up. check it out.

[/IMG]

 

[mick doyle]

hi kevin,
I saw that picture. That photo is what had me asking the question. I wouldn't like to try operate that camera in that configuration from my shoulder, it would be a bit difficult.

 

[Kevin C]

The EVF can be mounted in place of the LCD, I was able to operate the RED ONE with the EVF in that place a lot better when using the shoulder mount.

 

[mick doyle]

HI Kevin
I do a lot of doc shoulder shooting so i need a good evf position. what's the shoulder rest like? does the camera sit well on your shoulder? how heavy is it likely to be with the zoom lens, matte box, drive and bats. would it be similar to a 750.

 

[Sean R.]

The EVF can be mounted from numerous different locations on the camera using one of the rails or rail mounts. This allows you to position your monitoring option on top, from the side, toward the front or back. With the production pack accessories you will have a lot of different options for configuring. The shoulder rest is very soft comfortable rubber especially for as durable and well constructed as it is and it grips well to the shoulder to keep it from sliding/shifting. Overall weight really depends on the exact accessories, lens, ect. that you put into play. Another beautiful thing is the way you can re-configure your set-up to shift more weight to the front or back of the camera giving you many balance options.

 

[mick doyle]

ok Sean, thanks for that.

 

[Gregor Hagey]

best place for EVF in handheld mode

best place for EVF in handheld mode

Hi Mick,

I just shot a 20 minute short that was all handheld and found the best place for the EVF was actually attached to the left handgrip. You need to replace the long bolt that holds the handgrip into its rosette with a shorter one and then just screw the Red Arm into it and attach your LCD. At first we had the Red Arm attached to the bottom of the Handgrip, but to get more height out of it we eventually flipped the handgrip over so the Red Arm sat on top of the handgrip (I didn't take a picture of that configeration).

The great thing about Red is that you can configure it to your shooting style or needs. I had an actor that needed a very tight action to camera left and I as the operator was in the way so I just switched to the left shoulder.

 

[nzben]

With the right bracketry you can pretty much build the camera how you want. I am finding the universal brackets more useful in general than the cage brackets (note: using 19mm top & bottom)
One of the problems with the cage brackets is that all the treaded holes are 1/4", and none are 3/8th. This is easily fixed with the right tools and gives more rigging options.
I also use a light-weight noga arm for the LCD rather than the red arm as it is longer and more versitile, and manges to get the LCD right where I want. The EVF has quite a bit of weight to it and the red arm doesn't really stand a chance of holding in place, where-as a heavy-weight noga arm can lock it off in any position.
Element base plates are all good, so hopefully they will also deliver on the view finder mount.

 

[mick doyle]

Hi,
Thanks to Gregor and Ben for that. It seems like everybody will find their own solution for EVF positioning. Is there a red arm or support that will take the weight of the EVF securely?

 

[Mick van Rossum NSC]

That is all great, however I still miss the opportunity to rotate the EVF very lightly with one hand during a take without loosening up the whole arm; a possibility almost other viewfinder has. I hope someone will work on this.

Mick van Rossum NSC

 

[nzben]

Hi,
Thanks to Gregor and Ben for that. It seems like everybody will find their own solution for EVF positioning. Is there a red arm or support that will take the weight of the EVF securely?

I have to quote myself but......


"The EVF has quite a bit of weight to it and the red arm doesn't really stand a chance of holding in place, where-as a heavy-weight noga arm can lock it off in any position.
Element base plates are all good, so hopefully they will also deliver on the view finder mount."

(Element has a mount close to being finished, as far as I know the only arms that Red sell are lightweight (rebranded from another provider), as stated they dont really stand up to the weight of the EVF)

 

[Stephen Williams]

One of the problems with the cage brackets is that all the treaded holes are 1/4", and none are 3/8th. This is easily fixed with the right tools and gives more rigging options.

Hi,

I can see many cameras will be destroyed by modifications!

Stephen

 

[nzben]

Hi,

I can see many cameras will be destroyed by modifications!

Stephen

This is a bit presumptuous. I don't own a camera. The owners took the bracket to an professional engineer. The professional engineer worked out that he could put a 3/8th" taped hole in the bracket in between the existing 1/4" taped holes, and that it would be able to take 20Kg weight, without compromising the strength of the bracket.

The modified bracket has been used and definately come in handy. This is a stand alone bracket and not part of the camera itself.

I have had various brackets made up or modified for different equipment - Preston systems, Aaton cameras, Panavision cameras, Arri cameras.

Always by the owner of the camera or a rental tech who specialises in metal work. It's what you do to make the camera configure better to the situation you are in. I would not however start making modifications myself to equipment that I don't own.

 

[Stephen Williams]

I would not however start making modifications myself to equipment that I don't own.

Hi,

Thats what I love about rental equipment!

I saw a rental XDCAM HD camera fall & bounce to within a couple of inches of a swimming pool. Only thing that broke was the bracket that held the viewfinder, amazingly the small screen that was open survived!

Stephen

 

[chuck colburn]

Hi,

I can see many cameras will be destroyed by modifications!

Stephen

I can do it! I can do it!
Now where's my screw gun and I'll get right on it. I'm qualified. I use to work at rental houses in my early days.

 

[Gregor Hagey]

Hi,
Thanks to Gregor and Ben for that. It seems like everybody will find their own solution for EVF positioning. Is there a red arm or support that will take the weight of the EVF securely?

I like the noga arm too, but the red arm works fine for me, it's just a little short. The noga does have a smaller locking mechanism for the arm which makes it easier to position. With the red arm it's important to attach the end with the lock nut to the camera (I wish both ends had them) so the arm won't come loose at it's base. This will let you leave the arm ever so slightly loose so you can move it around during takes. The LCD will twist loose if you play with it too much, but that's why I'm hoping to modify the end with the short bolt by adding a longer bolt with a locking nut. I'm used to the Marshall LCD as an onboard monitor and the Red LCD is a featherweight compared to it.